Regarding Jeffrey

by Amy Reece

Arriving at a new school part way through the year, Linda is just trying to be a good student, do the right thing and fit in, but Jeffrey Butler, the most annoying kid in class, keeps getting in her way. To make matters worse, it is the 1960s and the world around Linda is spinning with revolution. Her class is practicing nuclear bomb drills, her mother is listening to the Beatles and has stopped wearing a bra, and her brother is about to be drafted. It's a good thing that Linda has Annie, her new best friend, to hold onto. Now, if only Annie was more accepted by the other kids and Jeffrey Butler would stop staring at her, life would be bearable. It is not until the popular kids accuse Jeffrey of stealing money from the school baseball team that Linda has to find her own truth and fight for what she knows is right.

Genres: Historical Fiction

298 pages, Paperback

First published December 9, 2013

Reviews

[Agnė · Rating 4 out of 5]

DISCLAIMER: I received a copy of "Regarding Jeffrey" by Amy Reece through a LibraryThing Early Reviewers Program in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Once I received this book and saw that it is "ideal for 10 to 15 year olds," I was quite disappointed. I am out of this range by almost a decade! Nevertheless, I started reading this book and I am SO GLAD I did.

"Regarding Jeffrey" is a beautifully written and heartwarming time journey not only to 1960's but also to everyone's own childhood. I guarantee you, this book will bring back lots of memories, no matter during which decade or even in which country you grew up.

I absolutely loved this book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who is tired of complex and stressful adulthood and would love, if only for a brief moment, to escape into the innocent world of Linda, an elementary school girl, whose biggest concern is an upcoming Friday's spelling quiz. But don't get me wrong, this novel is not a nostalgic meditation but rather an adventure full of elementary school drama. Linda's anecdotes will make you laugh, maybe even cry; they will touch your heart and leave you wanting more!

VERDICT: 4 out of 5

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

A superb read to Lose Yourself in

This book is the kind of book you devour in a weekend, leaving dishes and laundry to pile up endlessly. It's the book you spend one of the last weekend's of summer curled up with instead of mowing the yard and picking the last of your vegetable garden. It's the book that will make your significant other ask things like, "aren't you going to do anything today" and "when are you going to stop reading and make dinner?"
Regarding Jeffrey makes it easy to emphasize with the struggles of being the new kid, smile when something truly embarrassing happens that makes you remember that one childhood incident that was horrifyingly embarrassing at the time, and feel satisfied when things come full circle in a friendship. This book was terribly hard to put down. I really can't wait to get lost in another book written by Mrs. Reece. You can see the fast changing world of a child growing up in the 1960s, and fall into memories of your own childhood.

[Barb · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable novel told in vignettes that began in first grade and ended at sixth-grade graduation. It was interesting to follow the characters through their grade-school years in a turbulent time. Set in the mid-to-late 1960s, this novel explored a complicated relationship between two characters and shows that what you see at first is often nothing like who a person really is. There were plenty of cringe-worthy moments of grade-school embarrassment, and Mrs. Reece tells these tales well. As a fan of music from this era, I liked the chapter headings that included song titles--a soundtrack for this book would be a true pleasure. Where the book falls short is on the grammatical end; there were too many misplaced modifiers and other errors.

[Lara O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sweet, coming of age.

Sweet, coming of age.

A beautifully written book, set in the 60's, about growing up, innocence in a time of war, and falling in love. The book has a fine narrative tone and is reminisce of the Wonder years. I really enjoyed watching the heroine, Linda, grow and stand up for what's right.
A very enjoyable first novel by Amy Reece.

[Bree Hodges · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a wonderful coming of age novel. I loved the plot, I finished this in two days :)

[Joann Wickwire · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. It's the kind of book you start, and don't want to put down. I particularly liked the songs listed at the beginning of each chapter from the time the book was set, since I am an "Oldies" fan. This is a wonderful read, and a must add to your list for book clubs. Well written, and definitely takes you back in time, remembering both the good and bad of growing up!!